Free MLB Baseball Betting Picks: August 26th 2009: ATS Consultants

Below are Free MLB Picks for August 26th from ATS Consultants. Do you want to receive more free expert MLB predictions on a daily basis, be sure to sign-up for the ATS Consultants Newsletter.

OVER 8.5 Pittsburgh Pirates/Philadelphia Phillies:
Two lefties who are struggling a bit go at it tonight in the battle of Pennsylvania. The Pirates rallied for the three in the bottom of the ninth last night for a dramatic win in the series opener. Look for another high scoring game tonight at PNC Park.

Cole Hamels (7-8, 4.78) has still yet to get on track this year after his dominating performance last season, especially in the playoffs. He’s been injured a few times in ‘09 and the Phillies can only hope he’s 100% by the time October rolls around, as the Phils are in command in the NL East. Hamels is 1-3 with a 5.22 ERA in his last 5 starts.

Paul Maholm (7-7, 4.74) is, like Hamels, yet find any consistency in 2009. He started out looking like a Cy Young candidate in April, but has regressed steadily since. Maholm will never overpower anyone (only 98 strikeouts in 155 innings), but normally can be counted on to keep his team in the game until it’s time to go to the bullpen. He’s 1-3 with a 5.13 ERA in his last 5 starts. Expect a high scoring game tonight in Pittsburgh.

UNDER 10 Texas Rangers/New York Yankees:
Two red hot lefties will take the mound tonight at Yankee Stadium. Rookie Derek Holland goes for the Rangers with veteran Andy Pettitte taking the hill for the Yanks. A wild one last night went to the Rangers 10-9. I expect a much lower scoring game tonight in the Bronx.

Holland (7-7, 4.72) will be a major player in the Texas rotation for years to come. Along with fellow lefty Neftali Feliz, the Rangers will have a nasty 1-2 punch leading the rotation into the next decade. He’s been simply brilliant of late, pitching to a 4-1 record with a 1.85 ERA in his last 5 starts.

Pettitte (10-6, 4.25), like his Yankee teammates has really heated up with the summer weather. He knows how to get it done down the stretch and certainly will be a major player when the playoffs come around in October. He’s 2-0 with a 2.61 ERA in his last 5 starts.

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